“We just don’t have the bandwidth this time, and I didn’t want to do it unless we could do it right.”Ĭovid restrictions are a thing of the past, but one pandemic feature remains: wider aisles, allowing for a modest amount of social distancing. Off-site events will be reduced because ReedPop has fewer staffers available to manage them, Rogers says. This year’s NYCC will have the same general layout as last year’s show, including a dedicated gaming hall, panels, and some nighttime events held in the convention center’s new North Hall.

Fensterman will be missed, Rogers says, but she notes that “he left us with the tools we need.” ReedPop is now led by Mike Kisken and Simon Maxwell, while Kristina Rogers continues as v-p of the ReedPop global comics portfolio, overseeing C2E2, ECCC, and others. ReedPop president Lance Fensterman, who led the Reed Exhibitions division since its creation in 2009, departed to start a line of sports-focused events for Fanatics, the sports merchandise and collectibles juggernaut, that aims to become the “comic con for sports.” In addition, Mike Armstrong, v-p and former showrunner of NYCC, left ReedPop to join Fensterman’s new team. NYCC organizer ReedPop, which also owns C2E2, Emerald City Comic Con, PAX, and Star Wars Celebrations, had major personnel changes in the past year.

The biggest pop culture fan event in North America continues its strong postpandemic recovery, even as fan-favorite franchises transition-the Walking Dead and the MCU show signs of decline, while demand for anime and manga continues to grow-and the live-events industry is hit with downsizing and acquisitions. New York Comic Con returns to the Javits Center October 12–15 and is expected to draw 200,000 attendees.

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